Blog 4 Real Education Reform – The Sequel

On November 22, and the few days leading up to it, I was crazy busy posting links to this site as people blogged about reform for education. it was one of the most amazing things to watch as people just kept sharing and sharing their ideas for reform.

So, now it’s time to move beyond those words. . .Dave Britten, (aka @colonelB) has thrown down the gauntlet– and now we all need to participate in Blogging for Real Education Reform–the SEQUEL through sharing the ACTION STEPS we are taking to move towards our dreams and our visions. We need to all share the necessary steps we will be taking, (or already are taking), to move our work out of the factory model we have been living in for way too long! We need to show how we are stretching towards our ideals and our ideas and describe how we are acting to re-imagine education for our students, our children and our world.

Please read David’s post here–Blog 4 Real Education Reform – The Sequel–as his words are much more eloquent. . . and post your ACTION STEPS blog here–and we’ll compile them again so they can be found easily.

So, as David says,

“By January 1, each of us commits to blogging a contribution to our collective ACTION PLANfor re-tooling, re-inventing, and re-imagining what we’re going to do to turn the corner on 21st century learning. Let’s plan on posting our blog contributions during the week leading up to January 1, 2011 (between Christmas and New Years). This gives us plenty of time to think deeply about our own personal commitment to change and the actions we’ll need to take to influence others to do the same.”

Use the twitter hashtag #blog4reform, tweet out your post and also add the link in the comments here. I, for one, am really looking forward to reading the ways we’re working to change education for the future of our world.

Discussion

34 thoughts on “Blog 4 Real Education Reform – The Sequel”

Important questions any attempt for reforming education should ask: Why are we schooling our kids today? What is the real value we’re after? Does the current system allow room for transformation to bring about that value? If not, can we (and should we) start from scratch?

Looking back at the history of public schools and the failures to catch up with the world today, I accept the task is daunting. Still, efforts like #blog4reform are important as they lead to open discussions about the questions above and more. And open is what we need now!

While I am not an educator, I am very interested in the transformation of the education system and I am trying to understand the history while looking forward at the same time. I will try to participate in the #blog4reform with thoughts and ideas, but in the meantime I’d invite you to look at this article that I hope provokes some thoughts around the questions at the top: http://mybin.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/crying-for-superman-waiting-for-mr-anderson/

I am working on the project of revisioning school, so that even if our goals continue to have something to do with “grade level,” our aim is different. I dream that someday our aim will be for all kids love learning and see school as a place that serves this most basic of human needs. http://www.geniusinchildren.org. We need a paradigm shift.

As we face the various challenges of 2011, I would encourage everyone to seek out a colleague and serve together as “accountability partners” in growing professionally. As teachers and leaders, our roles are often isolating, yet it is essential to find time together in which we can share challenges, successes, and innovations . . . together. Embark on live learning walks together, discuss ways in which technology shapes your reflection, and highlight examples of engaged learning in your school community.

Build this into your calendar in a monthly format. I have been blessed to work with great colleagues as a teacher and a leader, yet we must make the most of our opportunities in this new year, in each year, as we grow as learners ourselves.

Bill’s suggestion is great. In one of my former schools we use peer triads for this and the change in teaching, attitudes and moral was inspiring. I’d like to encourage this across schools as we have 3 primary schools which feed to the same high school.